A New Year

*LISTENING TO:*
Song: Beyond Measure
Artist: Jeremy Camp
Album: Beyond Measure
Quote: "...I know that I’ve been given more than beyond measure. I come alive when, I see beyond my fears. I know that I’ve been given more than earthly treasure. I come alive when I’ve broken down and given you control..."
* * *

And so culminates another year... looking back, it's been one heck of an up and down ride as I saw my share of personal and spiritual highs and lows, uplifting happiness and accomplishment as well as pain and sadnesss. It was a year of learning, experiencing, following my heart, stumbling, picking myself up, and going at it all over again. It was a year where I got to meet a lot of new faces and made new friends, getting closer to some more than I ever thought would have been possible, and yet also seeing other friendships frustratingly fade into obscurity at the same time. It was a year where I felt God's "distance" as well as God's presence in my life... certainty in His direction as well as utter confusion and frustration. It was a year where certain things I thought defined me no longer gave me security, and yet new passions arose that gave me hope. It was a year of stepping out of comfort zones and finding myself out on a limb. A year of chances for me to open my eyes to the life before me and the opportunities and challenges it entails, whether it was in China or even in the workplace. It was a year of some of the toughest decisions I've had to make, and yet also some of the easiest. It was a year where I uncharacteristically seized opportunities while also reluctantly relinquished long-held dreams. It was a year where chapters closed only to signal the start of new ones. It was a year where I experienced and realized God's abundant blessings and valued those who are, through His grace, blessing me. It was a year where I welcomed the independence and responsibilities of being a "grown up" while, similarly, cherishing the times when I can still be a "kid" again. In all, it seems that this year marked a big milestone in my life... or at least several little ones, heheh... so, for better or worse, here's to 2006!

Am I a better man now than when the year began?... I don't know for sure. Am I that much different now than a year ago? I guess only my closest friends can tell me that. All I know is that I've amassed a big year's worth of life experiences that I hope will make me a better person. The ongoing search for the man God has called me to be still continues... one year... one month... one day at a time...

As for what's been happening lately, work's been pretty time-consuming. Coming back from the Christmas and New Year's holidays, RSP season is in full gear so work's been starting to pile up, with me starting to pull in overtime hours and working into the night, till as late as around 8pm and even 9pm sometimes. I can't complain though, 'cause heck, this is what we were hired for, and I'd rather be the one pulling overtime than someone else who has a family to go home to. Not only that, I'm still working for an extension to this contract that ends in only a couple of months (March). Only downside to pulling late-hours at work is that there's little time to myself to do other things and less time to spend with friends, parents, and with Bonnie. Ah well, it's only gonna get busier... just gotta suck it up, I guess, heheh. On the bright side, I think I'm starting to settle into my job, getting more accustomed to doing my job as well as getting along with co-workers. I was so skeptical when I first started working there if I'd ever be able to get along with the other people in my QCU team, but lately, it's been getting better and better, and we're starting to joke around and stuff more often now. It's still a struggle to keep my Christian morals at times amidst the secular influences and I falter every now and then... but I guess that's just another challenge I'll hafta face. Pay could always be better, but I'm still looking at this job as a stepping stone, as work experience for, hopefully, an eventual job related to Marketing (either at MD or elsewhere). I am definitely appeciating and valuing little things like sleep and personal "vegging" time though... heheh.

Christmas in Toronto was the usual... somewhat boring and uneventful. I always hate heading to Toronto when all my out-of-town friends JUST arrive back in Ottawa. :P Only real benefit from the trip was that I got to spend a little family time with my parents and I picked up a new cell phone at Pac Mall. :)

As for church, I've been going regularly to CCCO and just taking a passive approach at the moment, observing and seeing where I can fit in. I've offered my help to Pastor Cal regarding being on or leading worship teams, but he still hasn't gotten back to me yet. Haven't actually led worship in a few months now, which is kinda odd for me! Still itching to use my new electric guitar and pedal sometime though... hoping to incorporate it into worship team sometime, if allowed, heheh. I'm still trying to figure out the people, young and old, at CCCO and see where I can contribute and where I can make a positive impact. My mind strays to Celebration Church every now and then, since I did spend a whole year there... heheh, I still remember helping 'em organize their Christmas service a year ago... and though I miss 'em, I wonder sometimes if I'm missed there at all or if my brief stay there made any difference. I'm very glad they're doing well though, praise God, and glad my quiet discrete exit didn't cause too many ripples. Being around fellowship members helps. I recently came back from an H2O Committee retreat organized by Esther Seemold and it was a good time to get away, pray with the committee, and be open and honest about our thoughts on the fellowship this past year. I've been feeling more of a sense of pride and ownership of the fellowship lately, and even though events like the Winter Gala 2007 (pics below) were draining and lots of work, it's still a joy to serve the fellowship and try to be as best of a servant leader as I can be. The gala itself, by God's blessing, turned out really well and we had a great turnout of current fellowship members as well as some welcome out-of-towners. It's been a joy to work with the committee, especially working the "second job" with Steph (my co-chair), bouncing ideas, planning, evaluating, and brainstorming. :) I'm looking forward to a new year of growth for H2O and a new approach to leading the fellowship for the new season.

Winter Gala 2006!

Distinguished gentlemen.

The H2O Committee.

They're so thin!

Bonnie & I


New Year's eve was relatively quiet but nice and mellow. Stopped by Megan's party to say hi to the old Zoo Crew bunch that I haven't seen in a while. After that, rolled in the new year with Bonnie, just cuddling up for a movie at her place. Twas nice and relaxing. :)

Oh and a shout out to Josh & Shelly, who just got married and to Aron & Yayoi, who just got engaged! Congrats! :)

And so begins yet another week of work... wonder how busy it'll be this week? Heheh, hopefully, it won't be another couple of months before I post again.